Process of milking.



PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904..

1). T. SHARPLES; PROCESS OF MILKING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID TOWNSEND SHARPLES, OF W ESTCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF IVIILKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,845, dated August 9, 1904.

Application filed June 20, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID TowNsnNn Si-rARrLns, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVestchester, county of Chester, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Milking, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic milking, and has for its object certain improvements in the process whereby the action upon the cow is automatically regulated in accordance with the varying condition and Will or whim of the cow, thereby providing what I term a sympathetic action.

The invention is fully described. in connection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a mechanism adapted to carry the same into effect and which is made the subject of a separate application.

The present invention is specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of a pneumatic milking system adapted to carry out my improved process. Fig. 2 shows the teat-cup mechanism thereof in sectional elevation. Figs. 3 and L are cross sectional views of the particular form of teat-cup shown, taken, respectively, on'the lines :11 and 2 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 indicates diagrammatically the differing milking actions resulting automatically under different conditions.

a I will fully describe my improved process in connection with a description of the apparatus shown, referring first to Fig. '1, in which a represents a portion of a main line of airpipe arranged in connection with a pump or reservoir for maintaining therein an approximately uniform vacuum, and I) one of the valved branch pipes therefrom arranged in connection with the upper portion of a milk pail or receptacle 0, which latter is also in connection with a milk-pipe (Z, having terminal teat-cup connections for the cow or cows to be milked thereby. These features are commonly employed in milking apparatus to provide for applying suction to the cows teats, and pneumatic means have heretofore been provided to produce pulsations of the teat-cups for the purpose of discharging the milk from the teats by alternately increasing Serial No. 112,430. (lilo model.)

and reducing the degree of vacuum therein. \Vhile these pulsations materially assist in withdrawing the milk from the cow, it will be readily understood that in order to secure the best results they should not be produced arbitrarily at regular intervals and with a fixed intensity of action without regard to the condition and will of the cow, which largely affects the freedom of the milk flow, but that they should be automatically regulated as to frequency or character in sympathy therewith, so as to make the process not only more agreeable to the cow, but more rapid and economical. Some cows are easy milkers, while others are hard milkers, and the same cow at different milkings and at different stages of a given milking yields up her milk more or less readily. In a truly-automatic process, therefore, the pulsating action should be automatically varied in sympathy with these varying conditions of the cow, or, in other words, with the varying freedom of the milk flow from the cow. Such a process, and such only, fully meets the requirements, and my invention consists in effecting it. The mechanism required is simple, but will be described in detail as practically adapted to the purpose.

The teat-cups are all connected, as shown, to a common teat-cup chamber f, about which they are grouped, and this chamber is arranged in communication with the milk-tube d, by which the cups and pulsating mechanism are carried, and with the connected milkreceptacle and vacuum-pipes b and a. The check-valve g as shown, is provided to restrict the capacity of the milk-tube d, which also serves as a )assage-way for the air exhausting from the teat-cups and chamber f and to automatically shut off the latter when the maximum vacuum has been attained and the relief or air-inlet valve it, hereinafter referred to, is opened. This check-valve g is formed, as shown, with a stem 11, which is in telescopic engagement with the hollow stem at of a relief-valve f, by which it is adapted to be moved, though capable of a limited independent movement controlled by a spring f. This spring is arranged to normally hold the check-valve g in its nearest position to the valve /t, but permits of a movement of the latter against the increasing tension of the spring within the limits of a slot kin the hollow stem m, which guides projections 12 on the inclosed stem The relief-valve it comprises a piston portion 19, which fits within the cylindrical chamber f, and aconical portion g, which seats in a corresponding opening. in the head 8 of the chamber-body, and it is provided with a projecting stem 6, having an adjusting-nut at its upper end and an inclosing springer, which is arranged to normally press the valve 72 against its seat. An air inlet or inlets 'v are provided through'the piston 19 to the chamber f. The operation of this pulsating mechanism is as follows: In the positions shown the relief-valve it is closed and checkvalve 5 heldonly. slightly open, the spring 1' being'compressed under the suction or pressure on'said valve 9, due to the difference in pressure between the teat-cup chamber f and the remainder of the system. The vacuum in the system, operating through the open.

check-valve while tending to produce acorresponding vacuum in the teat -cup.region (comprising the teat-cups and chamber f) produces a suction on it suflicient to cause the milk to flow and; only increasing. as greater compression of the teat is required to secure this result. If the cow allows the milk to flow easily, this increase of the vacuum in the teat-cup region willbe correspondingly slow, the flow of milkbeing of such volume as to correspondingly shutoff the flow of'air, while, on the other hand, ifthe flow is not easy and more frequent compression of the teats is required the vacuum is more quickly increased in the teat-cup region to the point at which it. is intended to relieveit-,and thereby to reexpand the teat-cups preparatory to renewing the milking action. In any case, when the vacuum in the teat-cups is sufficiently increased the tension of the spring j overcomes the reduced suction on it and pushes it up into its raised position in the socketed relief-valve stemm, and whenever the maximum vacuum-point is reached in the chamber. f the atmospheric pressure on the exposed valve portion q of the relief-valve 7L overcomes the tension of spring n and slightly opens it, admitting atmospheric air against the increased area of the piston portion p, and so pressing the latter downward, together with the check-valve g, until the latter is seated and communication with the Vacuum system thus cut off.- The effective air-pressure on the relief-valve h, however, is reduced as the air passes through the restricted opening or openings o in the piston and reduces the vacuum beneath it until the tension of spring n overcomes the said. pressure and raises the whole relief-valve it as far as it is permitted by the clearance-in slot in of the hollow stem, the spring j being compressed by this movement, but the suction on check-valve f preventing ing conditions.

it from being immediately raised from its seat, as is necessary in order to permit the entire closing ofthe relief-valve q. The latter thus remains slightly open, still permitting air to enterthe chamber f until the vacuum in the latter is reduced to the minimum, when the spring u overbala-nces the-airpressure onpiston-valve p and also the suction on the checkvalve 9 and slightly raises the latter in moving tightly to the seat 1", thus bringing the parts again to the position indicated in the drawings in readiness. for. arepetition of the operation, as just described.

It will be seen that my invention provides for attaining radicallynew and important results in the art to which itrelates. Theteats are automatically manipulated. insympathy with the varying freedomi of the milk. flow instead of: arbitrarily Withoutzregard :to vary.-

The frequency, of: the pulsar tions, as described, varies automatically. in accord with the. amount: of? action .required .to secure the withdrawalkofx' themilk from'the cow..

My. improvement consists,,..,further, .inifirst partially compressing-the upperyon base per.- tion of the teat, so as-to reduce the cross-section at thispoint: without cutting off. OOI'IIIHU? nication with the udder; andzat thev same, time put; some 1 pressure. upon, the portion of? the teat; below this point; asindicated: in the drawings, which pressure tends. to". assist: in the withdrawing of; the milk; second, in main: taining moderate suction;on.the teat without collapsing the same so .leng-as-themilkcontinues to flow freely; third,.inifurther.'com,-

pressingthe upper. portion of the teat; as the suction becomes lesszeffective' to shut: off: the supply ofmilk therein from the udder; fourth, in collapsing the body. of the. teat to forcibly discharge the milk therefrom, and, fifth in quickly relieving the pressure on the teat,.so as to permit-the resupply. ofimilk-to thelat;- ter from the udden Bythis improvement in the process the sympathetic .actionis-niaintained, the pulsations. orzalternate collapsing and release of the teats being'eflected at:auto matically-varied intervalsin sympathy. with the varying freedom ,ofthe milk. flow; ;but. in

connection with 1 this the teats are automateically. manipulated .at; intervals in .thenatural manner to finally. dischargethe milk-1 there fromnamely, by cutting off the. communi: cation between the teat and the udden and then compressing the body of. theteat: progressively downward to expel .the milk. This.

action may be effeetedbyv merely proportions ing the surface-area andzrigidity ofthewalls of the teat-cup atidiflerent: portions,.so as to cause a sufiicientz uniform. pressure uponuthe:

whole exteriorsurface of: thecup to: first col: lapse or. flatten the mouth.portioniandtherm after the lower: portion, as described: As shown in the drawings,.the opposite stiffened portionsw of the walls below the month are IIO reams widened, so as to provide a comparatively large pressure area, and are connected by yielding wall portions 00, which readily collapse, while the walls of the lower portion ;1 of the cup are relatively rigid. hen thus properly proportioned, external pressure on the walls will collapse them, together with the inclosed teat, from the mouth downward, the extent of the collapse depending upon the amount of the pressure, which latter in turn increases more or less rapidly in proportion to the freedom of the milk flow.

The action may be explained more clearly in connection with the diagrams shown in Fig. 5, in which the parallel vertical lines represent various degrees of vacuum. while the diflerence in form and height of the diagrams l and 2 indicates roughly the difference in action resulting automatically under conditions of easy and hard milking, respectively. The minimum degree of vacuum, which serves to insure the holding of the cup mechanism to the teats is represented by the vertical line 4;. We will assume that the teatcup is adapted to fully compress the base of the teat at a degree of vacuum represented by the line 8. In diagram 1 the cow is milking easily and the vacuum rises slowly, reaching the cut-off point 3 only after a considerable delivery of milk through a more or less extended period of time, (indicated by the height of the diagram above the point 3.) The portion of the diagram below point 3 indicates the running up of the vacuum to the maximum (during which the teat is fully compressed) and the quick release automatically to the minimum. In diagram 2 the milk is not yielded up readily and the vacuum increases quickly to the cut-oflf point 3, the reduced height of the diagram indicating the reduction of time between pulsations as compared with the ireer action indicated in diagram 1. The amount of pressure required to fully compress the teat will vary in different cases; but in any event it is finally run up to the maximum before the release to minimum automatically takes place.

The manipulation of the teats automatically in sympathy with the freedom of the milk flow is the essential feature of my invention, and it is immaterial, so far as the broad process is concerned, how the manipulation is varied so long as it is automatically effected by and in harmony with the varying freedom of the milk flow. In the ordinary process of hand-milking the operator commonly compresses the base portion of the teat, so as to cut off communication with the udder, and thereafter collapses the body of the teat progressively downward to expel the charge of milk contained therein, and it is evident not only that the time required to fully collapse the teat varies somewhat with the size of the teat and the amount of milk stored in it, but also that the amount of pressure required to so collapse the body oi the teat to expel the milk varies considerably in different cases, owing to the more or less constricted teatopening or other varying conditions. Thus in one case it may be necessary to exert a given maximum pressure upon the teat during the collapsing movement, whereas i in another the teat may be entirely collapsed by existing a much less pressure. My improved process contemplates automatically varying the degree of pressure exerted upon the teat during the collapsing movement in accordance with the requirements of each particular case, as well as automatically varying the length of time consumed in each compression or pulsation in accordance with the varying quantity of milk delivered during such pulsation. In

. the lower diagrams shown in Fig. 5 the charac ter of thepulsations by my improved process under the conditions of easy and hard milking now being considered are indicated at 5 and 6, respectively. In diagram 5 it is assumed that the top of the teat is first closed by a degree of pressure represented by the line 8, that further compression to expel the stored milk from the teat goes on with little or no increase of pressure during a period of time which is shorter than the period of time under the conditions previously considered (diagram 1) where communication with the udder remains open, butwhich, nevertheless, may vary considerably because of the difference in quantity of milk stored in different cases, as well as the different-sized streams in which it is practicable to discharge it. Thus in diagram 5 the pressure remains substantially at the eight-degree line during a period of time represented by the height thereof, after which the pressure runs up quickly to the maximum for a repetition. In diagram 6 the base of the teat is represented as being closed by a pressure somewhat above the eight-degree line and the further compression to expel the stored milk in the teat as requiring an increased pressure during a period of time which,notwithstanding the comparative difliculty with which the milk discharges, may be shorter, as indicated, than in the case of the easier-milking conditions of diagram 5, owing, perhaps, to comparative smallness of the teat. Thus both the time required for a pulsation and the pressure required to effect it are variable because of varying conditions, even when the action is to first entirely out off the communication between the teat and the udder, and the importance in all cases of automatically varying the manipulation of the teats in accordance or sympathy with such varying conditions is apparent.

What I claim is- 1. The improvement in the art of milking which consists in subjecting the teats to pneumatic milking action varying inversely with the varying volume of the milk fiow.

2. The improvement in the art of milking l which consists in applying suction to the teats and varying the same inversely with the vary ing volume of the milk flow.

3. The improvement in theart of milking, which consists in subj eeting the teats to a pneumatic pulsating action varying inversely with the varying volume of the milk flow.

4:. The improvement in the art of milking, which consists in applying suction to the teats and subjecting the same to a pneumatic pulsating action varying inversely with the varying volume of the milk flow.

5. The improvement in the art of milking, which consists in applying suction to the teats varying in degree, inversely with the varying volume of the milk flow and in simultaneously subjecting the teats to a pneumatic pulsating action.

6. The improvement in the art of milking, which consists in simultaneously applying suction to the teats and subjecting the same to pneumatic pulsating action, said suction and pulsating action being varied inversely with the varying volume'of the milk flow.

7. The improvement in the art of milking, which consists in applying suction to the teats and varying the same between a fixed maximum and a fixed minimum, inversely with the varying volume of the milk flow.

8. The improvement in the art of milking, which consists in subjecting the teats to apneumatic pulsating action varying inversely with the varying volume of the milk flow between a fixed maximum and a fixed minimum of intensity.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of'two witnesses.

DAVID TOWNSEND SHARPLES.

Witnesses:

H. (J. MEREDITH, I. ROBERTS COMFORT. 

